Chapter 123: Our Date
6:50 PM, at the entrance to the Camelot Carousel at Lotte World.
After some strenuous effort, Chen Zhe had finally learned to skate under the guidance of Krystal Jung. Following a bit more time spent skating together, the two left the rink. Their ultimate destination was a premier dating spot: the Camelot Carousel at Lotte World, the famous filming location from the classic Korean drama *Stairway to Heaven*.
"Zhe, is this the last activity we’re doing tonight?"
Perhaps because they had grown accustomed to it at the skating rink, Krystal showed no resistance to Chen Zhe holding her hand. Instead, she seemed quite used to it, the two of them swinging their joined hands as they walked.
"As far as Lotte World attractions go, yes, this is the last one. But our date for today certainly isn't over yet!"
Chen Zhe reached out and gently tapped Krystal on the nose, answering her with a light laugh. He didn't elaborate further; after all, if he explained everything now, it wouldn't be a surprise.
"Is that so? Then where are you taking me next? Hmm, if we go by the time, you should be taking me to dinner, right?"
Hearing his reply, Krystal wrinkled her nose in slight dissatisfaction. To her, Chen Zhe’s answer felt a bit perfunctory. However, after calculating the time they would spend on the carousel, she could already guess where he would take her next. Given that it would be past seven o'clock after the ride, a normal dating schedule would dictate that it was time for dinner.
"The next part of the date is tied to the surprise I have for you! You can look forward to it; I’ve been preparing for this for a long time."
Gently swinging their joined hands, Chen Zhe winked at her playfully and pressed a finger to his lips.
"Hmph, fine. I’ll look forward to seeing what kind of surprise you’ve prepared for me, Zhe."
Krystal gave a soft huff, maintaining her usual tsundere persona, but Chen Zhe caught the flash of joy in her eyes. After spending so much time together, and combined with his knowledge of her from his previous life, he had figured out her temperament quite well. He was already very accustomed to her stubborn, tsundere act.
"Yes, I’m sure this surprise will satisfy my dear Miss Krystal. Anyway, let’s leave that for later. For now, let’s focus on the carousel!"
He tilted his head with a gentle, doting smile. Before she could respond, he pulled her toward the carousel.
***
Hearing the menu announced by Bai Fan, Chen Zhe nodded with a smile. The dishes were all types he favored in Western cuisine; it was clear that Bai Fan had put real effort into the preparation.
Bai Fan didn't reply to Chen Zhe. He simply nodded and began working with lightning speed, peeling the prawns while leaving the tails intact. He placed the prepared prawns into a bowl, added sea salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, white pepper, and tomato paste, mixed them thoroughly, and set them aside to marinate.
During the fifteen minutes the prawns needed to marinate, Bai Fan began prepping the other ingredients. His knife moved swiftly, slicing the garlic. He then placed a small pot on the stove, added four tablespoons of olive oil, and sautéed the garlic slices until they turned golden and slightly crispy at the edges. He scooped out the garlic slices, leaving the infused oil in the pot.
After finishing this, Bai Fan checked the time on his phone and saw that only ten minutes had passed; the prawns weren't yet fully marinated, so he couldn't proceed to the next step. After a moment of thought, he set a five-minute alarm on his phone and began working on the ingredients for the clam chowder. He retrieved a rustic sourdough bread loaf from the fridge.
Taking a fresh kitchen knife, he cut off the top of the bread and used a spoon to hollow out the inside. He then diced onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes. Finally, he sliced two cloves of garlic, chopped two scallions, and cut two strips of bacon into wide pieces, setting them aside. Just as he finished prepping the vegetables, the alarm rang.
***
After lunch, Chen Zhe and Krystal were driven back to LOEN by Lin Xiuhao. As a post-meal break, they took a leisurely stroll on the rooftop of the LOEN building before returning to the recording studio.
"How was the rest? Are you feeling confident about the recording now?" Bae Soo-young looked them over. He could see a clear change in their demeanor compared to the morning; it was obvious they had cleared the air, as their interactions were no longer awkward but natural and relaxed. He nodded with satisfaction and asked his question.
"Yes, we are confident, Teacher Bae/Director Bae!" Chen Zhe and Krystal replied in unison, their voices filled with confidence. The main reason they hadn't recorded well in the morning was that awkward incident. Now that it was resolved and their relationship had grown closer, they were naturally more confident than before.
"Excellent! That’s the spirit. Keep this state of mind and let’s start recording!" Hearing their synchronized response, Bae Soo-young was even more pleased. He applauded with a smile, clearly satisfied with their performance.
After Chen Zhe and Krystal reviewed their lyric sheets and warmed up their voices, the recording began again. This session was a great success. Both parts of the song were approved by Bae Soo-young after the second take, completing the recording of the Korean duet version of "Melody."
"Very good! You two were fantastic this time!" As Chen Zhe and Krystal stepped out of the booth and removed their headphones, Bae Soo-young turned his chair to face them, clapping with a smile and offering generous praise.
"Thank you, Teacher Bae/Director Bae, for all your hard work!" The two, feeling slightly embarrassed by the praise, politely bowed in response.
"Alright, you two can go and take a break now. Try not to disturb me; I need to focus on getting this song processed!" After chatting a bit more, Bae Soo-young told them they were free to go. However, remembering the awkward incident from the morning, he added a special reminder, seemingly worried that they might cause another scene that would affect his work.